Pleating apparatus



May R6, w57 M. UEBESKIND PLEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July28, 1964 www ATTORNEYS' may E6, E967 M. LIEBESKIND PLEATING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1964 INVENTUR MACK L/EES/K/N Fav`ATTORNEYS may my w57 M, LIEBESKIND 3,319,45

PLEATING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet C5 INVENTOR MACKLIEESK//VD ATTORNEYS.

may W, H967 M. MEBESKIND PLEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July28, 1964 MACK L /EBESK/N www ATTO R N EY$ United States Patent O3,319,845 PLEATENG APPARATUS Mack Liebeslrind, 65 Sutton Place,Lawrence, NX. H559 Filed July 2S, 1964, Ser. No. 335,697 4 Claims. (Ci.223-30) The present invention relates generally to the application ofdecorative pleating to fabric and more particularly to an improvedpleating apparatus for applying pleating to fabric which has contrastingshapes or patterns.

As is generally understood, a typical pleat producing apparatus employsapleating knife having a prescribed thrust stroke which is effective toproduce body folds or pleats in the body of the fabric. It is furtherunderstood that responsive to the shape or contour of the leading edgeof the pleating knife that a generally corresponding shape or patterncan be produced in the cusp or visible fold line of the pleat. Thus, itis possible not only to enhance the appearance of the fabric by applyingpleating thereto, but also the applied pleating itself can be producedwith an interesting variation or pattern to further enhance theappearance of the fabric. Although it is possible to produce coutrasingpleat patterns with conventional pleating apparatus, in applying orproducing the same, it is necessary to use a pleating knife providedwith a shaped or contoured leading edge tailored specically to achievethe end result that is desired. Subject as the art of pleating is tochanging fashion, the use of special pleating knives has obviouslimitations and disadvantages.

It is broadly an object of the present invention to provide an improvedpleating apparatus which is capable of applying decorative pleating tofabric having contrasting patterns and employing to this end aconvential contoured pleating knife.

Specically, it is an object to provide a versatile pleat producingapparatus -capable of contrasting pleat production in many differingoverall patterns, all of which is produced with the same pleating knife.

A still further object is to provide a versatile pleat producingapparatus operating generally as does conventional pleating apparatus,but easily and economically modified in mode of operation to produce awide variation of contrasting pleated products.

A preferred embodiment of a pleating apparatus embodying features of thepresent invention, includes opposing feed rollers for intermittentlyadvancing the fabric to be pleated, and an undulating contoured pleatingknife which, during intervals of fabric advance, is effective to producepleats in the body of the fabric. As is generally understood, theundulating contour of the pleating knife employed herein is effective toproduce a corresponding undulating or fancy pleat pattern in the fabric.However, in accordance with the present invention, a sheet material,preferably an ordinary paper, is advantageously arranged in aninterposed position between the leading edge of the pleating knife andthe fabric and, in this interposed position, is effective to modifyv theshape or pattern of the pleat produced along this segment of thepleating knife leading edge. By providing cut-away areas in the body ofthe interposed sheet material, the areas of the fabric coextensive withthese cutaway areas have normal or expected fancy pleats producedtherein, whereas the other fabric areas are produced with a noticeablydifferent and contrasting pleat pattern.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of a presentlypreferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance withthe 3,319,845 Patented May 16,` 1967 present invention, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a pleatingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the apparatus of FIG. l showing furtherdetails of the drive and actuating mechanisms thereof and also themanner in which fabric to be pleated and associated top paper isthreaded between the pleating knives and feed rollers of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an elevational View, in section, taken along section line 3-3of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing furtherthat the fabric is sandwiched between top and bott-om papers in its runthrough the apparatus, and also showing the actuating means for openingand closing the pleating knife about the paper sandwiched fabric;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view on an enlarged scale of the pleating knifeand a paper sandwiched pleated fabric, the portion of the pleated fabricadjacent the leading edge of the pleating knife being shown in section,taken along section line 4-4 of subsequent FIG. 5, to expose the contourof the fold line of the pleat produced along the leading edge of thepleating knife;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged elevational sectional views taken alongsection lines of FIG. 4 at spaced points along the pleating knifeillustrating the nature of the body fold of the pleat overlying theleading edge of the pleating knife after a pleating thrust strokethereof, to wit;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along section line 5 5 of FIG. 4 in anarea where interposed top paper modifies the fold line of the body foldproduced along the leading edge of the pleating knife;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along section line 6 6 of FIG. 4 in anarea coextensive with a cut-away area of the top paper andisillustrative of the normal formation of a fancy pleat pattern by thepleating knife;

FIG. 7 is a sectional View similar to FIG. 6, but taken along sectionline '7 7 of FIG. 4 at a valley of the undulating contoured leading edgeof the pleating knife; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an illustrative sample of pleated fabricas produced by the apparatus of the present invention with a portion ofthe top paper removed from the fabric to illustrate the pattern of thepleat as produced in areas of the fabric coextensive `with said paperand as produced in fabric areas coextensive with cut-away areas of thepaper.

Reference is first made to FIG. 8 and the illustrative sample of pleatedfabric, designated 10, which is shown therein in a sandwiched conditionbetween top paper 12 and bottom paper 14 as actually produced by apreferred embodiment of a pleating apparatus according to the presentinvention. Arranged transversely across the body of the fabric Iii is asuccession of pleats 16, the majority of which are produced in the bodyof the fabric 10 with a noticeable variation in pattern along the pleatcusp or visible folded edge. Taking for example the singled-out pleatdesignated 16a, it will be seen that in the medial portion of this pleatthe cusp or visible fold line thereof has an undulating or fancy pleatpattern herein designated 1S and, in laterally adjacent areas has astraight or plain pleat pattern herein designated 20. It will further benoted that the fancy pleat pattern 18 is coextensive with a cut-awayarea 22 provided in the body of the top paper 12, whereas the plainpleat pattern 20 is coextensive with physical body portions of the toppaper 12.

As is generally understood in the art of pleating fabric, a pleat suchas has herein been designated 16 is produced from a body fold providedin the fabric 10, and is permanently set in the body of the fabric 10 byheat and pressure either supplied at the time of pleat formation orsubsequent thereto in an autoclave. Also as is generally understood,such a body fold or pleat is produced `by a pleating knife of pleatproducing apparatus, such as is described hereinafter more fully, whichknife is adapted to engage the fabric and move the same through aprescribed pleating stroke thrust which is effective to cause a bodyfold overlying the fabric engaging or leading edge of the pleatingknife. For this reason, the leading edge of the pleating knife istypically provided with a shape or contour which it is desired totransfer to the fold line of the body fold. This fold line is the linealong which the lbody fold is itself folded back over the leading edgeof the pleating knife. Where the transferred contour of the fold line ofthe body fold is undulating, the pattern of the pleat produced alongsuch a contoured fold line is correspondingly undulating in shape orpattern such as the fancy pleat pattern herein designated 18. Incontrast, where the fold line of the body fold is substantially straightor without variation, the produced pleat along such a straight fold lineis correspondingly straight or plain such as the plain pleat patternherein designated 20.

As is best shown in FIG. 4, in a typical single transversely orientedbody fold produced in the fabric 10 in accordance with the presentinvention, there are some portions of length thereof having anundulating contoured fold line, whereas other length portions thereofhave a substantially straight fold line. Both these contrasting foldlines are produced by a pleating knife 24 presenting a typicallycontoured leading edge 26 having surface contact entirely across thewidth of a fabric 10. To insure that this contact occurs entirely alongthe leading edge 26, plur-al machined cuts 28 are made into the body ofthe knife 24 and terminate in machined slots 30, thus creating separatebody segments collectively designated 32 throughout the pleating knifebody which renders the leading edge 26 more bendable or pliable thanotherwise might be the case if the body of the knife 24 was solidthroughout. The typically undulating contour of the pleating knifeleading edge 26 is formed by a series of alternately spaced crests 34and valleys 36.

As depicted in FIG. 4, pleating knife 24 is in a position of movementfollowing a pleating thrust stroke in the direction of the arrow T and,as a consequence of such movement has produced a body fold in the fabric10. The produced body fold is itself normally folded back along theleading edge 26 against the marginal leading edge area of the knife 24.This overlying body fold however, has been omitted in FIG. 4, to expose,by cross section f the paper sandwiched fabric 10, the shape or contourof the fold line of this bodily fold along the pleating knife leadingedge 26. As previously noted, the shape or pattern of a pleat isdictated by the shape or pattern of the fold line of the Pleat.

As is generally understood to be the consequence of providing anundulating contour to the pleating knife leading edge 26, acorresponding undulating contoured fold line is produced in the foldline of a body fold or pleat 16. However, where in accordance with thepresent invention, a body of top paper 12 is interposed between thepleating knife 24 and the fabric 10, the leading edge 26 is renderedineffective in transferring or imposing its undulated shape or contourto the fold line of the Pleat 16. Stated somewhat differently, the toppaper 12, unlike the more resilient and pliable fabric 10, yields tothrust movement of the pleating knife 24 in a substantially straightfold line extending transversely across adjacent crests 34 of theleading edge 26, as seen along the left hand portion of the pleatingknife 24 illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, areas of the fabric coextensivewith the top paper 12 are produced with pleats 16 having a plain pleatpattern 20 in the visible fold lines or cusps of the pleats. However, incut-away areas 22 of the paper 12, the undulating contoured leading edge26 of the pleating knife 24 is obviously not prevented by the top paper12 from having its normal effect of producing an undulating contouredfold line in the pleat 16. Thus, the areas of the fabric 10 coextensivewith the paper cut-away areas 22 are produced with pleats 16 having anormally expected fancy pleat pattern 18.

Having reference now to the sectional view of FIG. 5, the fabric 10sandwiched between the top and bottom papers 12 and 14 is shown threadedbetween a stationary pleating knife 38 and the movable pleating knife 24depicted in a closed position about the fabric and papers. A slight bendin a body segment 32 of the pleating knife 24 may be noted, indicativeof the firm manner in which the knife leading edge 26 and areas adjacentthereto are pressed into surface contact with the paper sandwichedfabric 10 to insure pleat formation in the same responsive to a pleatingthrust stroke of the pleating knife 24. Inasmuch as FIG. 5 is taken inan area of the fabric 10 coextensive with the body of the top paper 12,the shape or contour of the pleat fold line, designated 40 in FIG. 5, isthroughout the entire superposed arrangement of fabric 10 and papers 12,14 in a substantially straight line extending across adjacent crests 34provided along the pleating knife leading edge 26.

In sharp contrast to the pleat formation of FIG. 5, it is shown in thesectional view of FIG. 6 which is taken in an area of the fabric 10coextensive with a cut-away area 22 of the paper 12, that the fold line40a of the pleat 16 extends from a crest 34 inwardly into a valley 36,thus generally following the undulating contour of the pleating knifeleading edge 26. Accordingly, a portion of the pleat 16 is visible:beyond the plane of cross section, this pleat portion constituting theundulating or fancy pleat pattern herein designated 18.

As in FIG. 6, the pleat formation of FIG. 7 is similarly that of anundulating or fancy pleat pattern 18. The valley 36 of the leading edge26 depicted therein originates just forward of the pleating knifesurface 28a produced by the machine cut 28, and extends from thissurface rearwardly or behind the pleat 16 as depicted in FIG. 7 to thecrest 34. Fold line 40a similarly has the curvature or contour of theleading edge 26 between the adjacent valley 36 and crest 34. The bottompaper 14 on the other hand, folds in a straight line between adjacentcrests 34 but has no effect on pleat formation since it is notinterposed between the pleating knife 24 and the fabric 10. Bottom paper14 however, provides body to the fabric 10 which retains the pleatformation in the body of the fabric 10 until the same is permanently setby autoclaving, and also aids in carrying the fabric 10 through thepleated apparatus.

As herein described, an interposed oridinary paper, such as for examplekraft paper of twenty pound basis weight or parchment paper, may beemployed to produce a straight fold line 40` along the undulatingcontoured leading edge 26 of the pleating knife 24. Alternatively, usemay also be made of non-woven adhesive bonded fibrous material, notusually classified as paper, but also lacking an inherent capacity toadapt itself to the curvature of the leading edge 26 and, consequentlyyielding to a pleating thrust movement in a straight fold line. As usedin the appended claims, it is accordingly intended that the term paperinclude a wide variety of materials having the characteristics forproducing this end result.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3 and the preferred embodiment of apleating apparatus according' to the present invention therein generallydesignated 50. Pleating apparatus 50 includes identical spacedupstanding side support vframes 52, only one of which is shown in FIGS.1-3. The pleating means of the apparatus 50 which produce pleating 16 inthe fabric 10 are supported between the side frames 52, whilesubstantially identical sets or arrangements of mechanisms which impartmovement to this pleating means are supported on the outside of each ofthe side support frames 52. As best shown in FIG. 3, a pair oftransversely disposed and generally parallel shafts 54, 56 are rotatablymounted at their respective opposite ends in the support frames 52.Journalled for rotation on the shafts 54, 56 are opposing feed rollers58, 60 powered for rotation in unison in opposing directions byintermeshing gears 62, 64 mounted on the extending ends of the shafts54, 56. This power is derived from a main motor (not shown) of theapparatus 5t) having a conventional drive connection to the lower shaftS6 for `driving the feed roller 60 thereon in rotation in a directionwhich feeds the fabric forwardly through the apparatus 5t) in thedirection of the arrow designated A. Under the urgency of a spring 66seated at one end in a vertical slot 68 in the support frame 52 and atits other end against the shaft 54, gear 62 secured on the end of theshaft 54 is biased into engagement with the driven gear 64 andaccordingly provides opposing rotation to the upper feed roller 58. Asi-s typical of pleating app-aratus, the rotational movement of theopposing feed rollers 58, 60 is intermittent such that the fabric 10threadedbetween the nip of the rollers 58, 66 is, during operation ofthe apparatus 58, intermittently advanced during rotation of theserollers and, during periods when these rollers are not rotated, securedagainst movement by the pressure nip of these rollers; It is duringintervals of feed movement of the fabric 10 that pleats 16 are producedin the fabric 10 by the pleating knife 24. As best shown in FIG. 3, inthe run of the fabric 10 through the feed rollers 58, 60 lengths of topand bottom papers 12, 14 are guided about idler shafts 70, 72 forsandwiching the fabric 1) therebetween. The superposed arrangement offabric 10 and top and bottom papers 12, 14 is then threaded between thestationary pleating knife 38 and the thrusting pleating knife 2'4 whichis shown in FIG. 3 in its open position.

Closing movement' of the movable pleating knife 24 in the direction ofthe arrow designated B about the paper sandwiched fabric 10 incident to.and during a pleating stroke of the pleating knife 24 is achieved bymounting the base of the pleating knife 24, as by screws 74, to ahorizontal leg'of an L-shaped bracket 76 secured to a support rod 78 andpivotal about the long axis of the rod 78. A spring 80 connected to thevertical leg of the L-shaped bracket 76 and to the support frame 52 issuitably angledto normally bias the pleating knife 24 into a closedyposition about the paper sandwiched fabric 10. This closing movement ofthe pleating knife 24 occurs except when a vertically movable platform86 is in its raised position of movement, as depicted in FIG. 3, andturns the knife 24 open through an angled arm 82 xedly connected at oneend to the horizontal leg of the bracket 76 and having at itsother end aroller 84 in surface contact with the platform 86. Carrying platform 86is an L-shaped arm 88 pivotally mounted, as at 92, to frame 52 andnormally under t-he urgency of spring 90 to pivot in a directionloweringy platform 86 and permitting the closing of the pleating knife24. This movement is under the control of a cam 98 having a peripheralsurface cam rise 96 lowering the end of the horizontal leg of the arm 88which has a cam follower l94 in surface contact against the cam 98.

Cam 98 also controls lateral shifting movement of the pleating knife 24as well as forward thrusting movement of the same, thus assuring theoccurrence of these essential movements in proper timed sequence witheach other during pleat production of the apparatus 50. Cam 98 isjournalled for rotation on a shaft 101) which extends the full width ofthe apparatus 50 and is integrated in a suit able manner with the mainmotor drive of the apparatus 5t) so that cam 98 is continuously poweredin rotation. Provided on the face of cam 98 visible in FIG. 3, is a camgroove 102 which imparts forward thrusting and retracting movement tothe pleating knife 24. A cam follower 184 suitably mounted on a cam arm106 is disposed in the cam groove 102 and, by referring to FIG. 1, itcan be seen that at its other end, the cam arm 1116 is xedly secured toa floating pivot 108 supported in spaced blocks 110 provided on thesupport frame 52. Similarly iixedly secured to the floating pivot 108 isa T-shaped arm 112 (see also FIG. 2) which has as its horizontal crosspiece at one end thereof a sleeve-bearing 114 which receivestherethrough an end of the rod 78 of the pleating knife mounting bracket76. Thus, responsive to rotation of the cam 98 and the movement impartedby the positive motion cam groove 162 thereof, the pleating knife 24 isalternately imparted with forward thrusting movement during theproduction of a pleat 16 in the fabric Ill and retracting movement to aready position incident to a succeeding pleating thrust movement.

Additionally, cam 98 imparts lateral shifting movement to the pleatingknife 24 so that the contoured leading edge 26 thereof in successivepleating strokes is alternately laterally displaced to enhance theappearance of the undulating or fancy pleat pattern 18 which is producedin the fabric 10. This lateral shifting movement of the pleating knife24 however, has no effect either adverse or favorable on the productionof the straight or plain pleat pattern 2@ in the fabric 10. Secured forrotation on the face of cam 98visible in FIG. l, as by a securing piece116, is a gear 118 intermeshing with a gear 120 rotatably mounted as at122 on the frame 52. A crank arm 124 is connected at one end, as at 126,to -gear 120 and at its other end to bifurcated extensions 128 of a paWlcarrying arm 132 pivotally mounted, as at 131i, to support frame 52. Apawl 134 mounted on the arm 132 engages with a ratchet 136 journalledfor rotation on a shaft 138. Responsive to each throw of the crank arm124 and corresponding pivotal movement of the arm 132, the shaft 138 isdriven in rotation through the pawl and ratchet arrangement 134, 136.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that mounted on the extendingend of the shaft 138 is a cam 140 having a suitably congurated camgroove 142v therein for imparting alternating sidewise or lateralshifting movement to the pleating knife 2-4. A cam arm 144 having avertically disposed cam follower 146 riding'in the cam groove 142 ismounted at its medial portion for pivoting movement, as at 148, to alateral extension 15) dependent from the support frame 52. At its otherend, the cam arm 144 has a generally rectangular slide block housing152. Positioned within the housing 152 is a sliding block 154 receivingthrough a machined slot 156 therein the remote end of the pleating knifemounting bracket rod extension 78. Spaced stops 158 disposed on the rod78 on either side of the housing 152 are alternately contacted duringpivoting movement of the cam arm 144 for imparting lateral shiftingmovement to the rod extension 78 and thus to the pleating knife 24mounted on the bracket 76 of the rod 78. Lateral shifting movement ofthe pleating knife 24, as just described an-d also thrusting movement ofthe pleating knife 24, is achieved by permitting sliding movement of theblock 154 mounting the rod 78 within the housing 152.

Completing the construction of the pleating apparatus 5t), at least asfar as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention, aremeans for accommodating a supply of top paper 12 and permitting the feedthereof in an interposed position modifying the normal pleat productionof apparatus 50 and producing the novel pleated product according to thepresent invention. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a supply roll 12a oftop paper 12 is mounted on a support rod 160 supported at its oppositeends in lateral extensions of an upstanding yoke 162 integral with theside frame support 52. Since it is desirable that the supply of toppaper 12 which is unwound from the supply roll 12a be threaded in a tautor slightly tensioned condition in its run between the pleating knives24, 38 and the feed rollers 58, 60, a conventional cylindrical cardboardcore of the roll 12a is frictionally engaged at its opposite endopenings by a conically surfaced member 164 fixed in position on thepaper support rod 160 to exert some resistance against the feed movementof the rollers 58, 60 which unwinds the supply roll 12a.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A pleating apparatus for simultaneously forming a fancy and plainpleat pattern in a fabric comprising opposing rollers and drive meanstherefor for intermittently advancing said fabric in a forwarddirection, pleating means in engagement with said fabric having aprescribed pleating stroke for causing during intervals of intermittentfabric advancement, a body fold in said fabric lying generallytransverse to the direction of fabric advance, said pleating meansincluding a pleating knife disposed transversely to the direction offabric advance and having an undulating contoured fold line formingleading edge thereon for normally producing a corresponding contouredfold line in said fabric during each pleating stroke resulting in theformation of a fancy pleat pattern in said fabric along such a contouredfold line, and a body of paper having cut-out areas therein interposedlbetween said leading edge of the pleating knife and the fabric forpermitting the normal formation of a fancy pleat pattern only in thoseportions of the fabric coextensive with a paper cut-out area andotherwise being itself folded in a substantially straight fold lineduring each pleating stroke for producing a corresponding straight foldline in the fabric resulting in the formation of a plain pleat patternin said fabric along such a fold line.

2. A pleating apparatus for simultaneously forming a fancy and plainpleat pattern in a fabric comprising opposing rollers and drive meanstherefor for intermittently advancing said fabric in a forwarddirection, pleating means in engagement with said fabric having aprescribed pleating stroke for causing, during intervals of intermittentfabric advancement, a body fold in said fabric lying generallytransverse lto the direction of fabric advance, said pleating meansincluding a pleating knife disposed transversely to the direction offabric advance and having an undulating contoured fold line formingleading edge thereon formed of a series of alternating crests andvalleys for normally producing a corresponding undulating contoured foldline in said fabric during each pleating stroke resulting in theformation of a fancy pleat pattern in said fabric along such a contouredfold line, and a body of paper having cut-out areas therein interposedbetween said leading edge of the pleating knife and the fabric forpermitting the normal formation of a fancy pleat pattern only in thoseportions of the fabric coextensive with a paper cut-out area andotherwise being itself folded in a substantially straight fold lineextending transversely across adjacent crests of said leading edge ofthe pleating knife during each pleating stroke for producing acorresponding straight fold line in the fabric resulting in theformation of a plain pleat pattern in said fabric along such a foldline.

3. A pleating apparatus for simultaneously forming a fancy and plainpleat pattern in a fabric comprising opposing rollers and drive meanstherefor for intermittently advancing said fabric in a forwarddirection, pleating means in engagement with said fabric having aprescribed pleating stroke for causing, during intervals of intermittentfabric advancement, a body fold in said fabric lying generallytransverse to the direction of fabric advance, said pleating meansincluding a pleating knife disposed transversely to the ydirection offabric advance and having an undulating contoured fold line formingleading edge thereon formed of a series of alternating crests andvalleys for normally producing a corresponding undulating contoured foldline in said fabric during each pleating stroke resulting in theformation of a fancy pleat pattern in said fabric along such a contouredfold line, and a supply of paper and means mounting the same for feed ofa length thereof in interposed position between said leading edge of thepleating knife and the fabric, said paper having cut-out areas thereinfor permitting the normal formation of a fancy pleat pattern only inthose portions of the fabric coextensive with a paper cut-out area andotherwise being itself folded in a substantially straight fold lineextending transversely across adjacent crests of said leading edge ofthe pleating knife during each pleating stroke for producing acorresponding straight fold line in the fabric resulting in theformation of a plain pleat pattern in said fabric along such a foldline.

4. A pleating apparatus for simultaneously forming a fancy and plainpleat pattern in a fabric comprising opposing rollers and drive meanstherefor for intermittently advancing a fabric threaded therebetween ina forward direction, pleating means including a pleating knife disposed.transversely to the direction of fabric advance and positioned inengagement with said fabric at the entrance thereof between saidopposing rollers, means operatively connected to said pleating means forthrusting said pleating knife in a pleating stroke in the direction ofsaid opposing rollers, during intervals of intermittent fabricadvancement, for causing a body fold in said fabric overlying theleading edge of said pleating knife, an undulating contour formed of aseries of alternating crests and valleys along said pleating knifeleading edge for normally producing a corresponding contoured fold linealong said fabric body fold during each pleating stroke resulting in theformation of a fancy pleat pattern in said fabric along such a contouredfold line, and a supply of paper and means mounting the same fordisposition of a length thereof in an interposed position between saidleading edge of the pleating knife and the fabric and between saidopposing rollers for intermittent feed of the paper simultaneously withsaid fabric, said paper having cut-out areas therein for permitting thenormal formation of a fancy pleat pattern only in those portions of thefabric coextensive with a paper cut-out area and otherwise having a bodyfold produced therein during each pleating stroke overlying the leadingedge of said pleating knife and having a substantially straight foldline extending transversely .across adjacent crests of said leading edgefor producing a corresponding straight fold line along the fabric bodyfold resulting in the formation of a plain pleat pattern in said fabricalong such a fold line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,728 12/1897Pause 223-30 1,518,670 12/1924 Noel 223-30 1,699,340 l/l929 Angelus223-30 1,770,590 7/l930 Ezbelent 223-30 1,923,158 8/1933 McDonough223-30 2,318,497 4/1943 Kassell 223-30 X 2,962,991 l2/l960 Burgert112-132 3,086,685 4/1963 Cahill 223-30 JORDAN FRANKLIN, PrimaryExaminer. G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner,

1. A PLEATING APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FORMING A FANCY AND PLAINPLEAT PATTERN IN A FABRIC COMPRISING OPPOSING ROLLERS AND DRIVE MEANSTHEREFOR FOR INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING SAID FABRIC IN A FORWARDDIRECTION, PLEATING MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FABRIC HAVING APRESCRIBED PLEATING STROKE FOR CAUSING DURING INTERVALS OF INTERMITTENTFABRIC ADVANCEMENT, A BODY FOLD IN SAID FABRIC LYING GENERALLYTRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF FABRIC ADVANCE, SAID PLEATING MEANSINCLUDING A PLEATING KNIFE DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY TO THE DIRECTION OFFABRIC ADVANCE AND HAVING AN UNDULATING CONTOURED FOLD LINE FORMINGLEADING EDGE THEREON FOR NORMALLY PRODUCING A CORRESPONDING CONTOUREDFOLD LINE IN SAID FABRIC DURING EACH PLEATING STROKE RESULTING IN THEFORMATION OF A FANCY PLEAT PATTERN IN SAID FABRIC ALONG SUCH A CONTOUREDFOLD LINE, AND A BODY OFF PAPER HAVING CUT-OUT AREAS THEREIN INTERPOSEDBETWEEN SAID LEADING EDGE OF THE PLEATING KNIFE AND THE FABRIC FORPERMITTING THE NORMAL FORMATION OF A FANCY PLEAT PATTERN ONLY IN THOSEPORTIONS OF THE FABRIC COEXTENSIVE WITH A PAPER CUT-OUT AREA ANDOTHERWISE BEING ITSELF FOLDED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT FOLD LINEDURING EACH PLEATING STROKE FOR PRODUCING A CORRESPONDING STRAIGHT FOLDLINE IN THE FABRIC RESULTING IN THE FORMATION OF A PLAIN PLEAT PATTERNIN SAID FABRIC ALONG SUCH A FOLD LINE.